Captivated by the deep

Before arriving in Plymouth, Mae had already undertaken a number of activities which confirmed in her mind that marine biology was the subject for her.

She took part in a citizen science programme, SeaSearch, which saw groups of divers cataloguing the biodiversity of the British coastline.

She also went to Mexico with the Devon-based organisation Global Vision International, where she was part of a team collecting data on coral reefs and fish populations.

Despite very basic living standards, Mae came to realise that it didn’t matter where she was or what she had – as long as she was by the sea, she would always be happy.

With those experiences very fresh in her mind, she embarked on her studies in Plymouth and quickly began acquiring new skills and knowledge to compliment her passion and enthusiasm.

“I learned to appreciate the marine environment as a dynamic place,” she said. “I came to understand the complexities of being a marine creature in an ever-changing environment and how they cope with natural stressors alongside anthropogenic factors.

During her time at the University, Mae got involved with the city’s National Marine Aquarium and, during her second year, began working there part-time.

She saw it as an opportunity to share her passion for the seas with others, something which she has continued since graduating by pursuing a Masters in Science Communication at the University of the West of England.

However, she then took time away from those studies after winning the prestigious 2017 European Rolex Scholarship.

She found out about the programme through the University’s own diving instructors, who run modules as part of the BSc (Hons) Marine Biology course.

And since winning the award in February 2017, she has learned new techniques in both diving and underwater photography and travelled to some of the most stunning marine landscapes on the planet.

That has included exploring mesophotic reefs in Micronesia, diving with bull sharks in Fiji, conducting repellent tests on Great White Sharks in Australia and clearing up ghost fishing nets from Wellington harbour in New Zealand. She also joined a bike tour around New Zealand doing school outreach talking about plastic pollution.

“When I applied for the award, I think an aspect that made me stand out from other candidates was my interest in marine plastics and a wish to communicate current research,” Mae said.

For the moment, Mae’s focus is on completing her scholarship year and then her Masters thesis. But after that it will be a case of – in her words – “seeing where the waters take me”.

“It hasn’t treated me badly so far, but it will definitely involve being in a thick of marine biology and communicating it with anyone who will listen to me,” she adds. “Studying in Plymouth has provided me with so many opportunities for the future and I will never regret choosing Plymouth as my university.”